BOLLYWOOD ISHTYLE: Alia Bhatt's Vintage Wedding Outfits in Raazi

I'm a bit late for this one, as the film came out about 10 months ago! I thought I'd post about the outfits from Bollywood hit Raazi, starring Alia Bhatt as a spy called Sehmat, as I loved the outfits she wore. The costume designers were Maxima Basu and Bhagyashree Dattatreya Rajurkar, who have designed for other period movies (think Padhmavaat!) so it's not surprising these are pretty.

The first outfit was the Sehmat's wedding gharara, which is vintage gorgeousness! The film is set in the 70s, and I love how the outfits reflect this (not to mention this faux wedding photo below!)

I loved the details of this outfit, not to mention the contrasting green dupatta, , the gota kaam (the gold fabric sewn on), and the beautiful jewellery. I'm sure my mum would be able to relate to a lot of these pieces, as a lot of it is reminiscent of her time (although perhaps some of this is a little more glamorous that some brides at that time!). The makeup is dressy without being too much, and works well with the red lips.

The next outfit is the sari worn in the bride's 'rukhsati' or 'bidaai' scene, which is when she is leaving her parents to go to her new home.The character wears a simple baby pink and light blue sari, which is accessorised with a separate dupatta for her head, as well as pretty jewels. I thought this was more cute than gorgeous, but it does go with the Alia's look for the movie, and certainly does look a little 70s to me!

What did you think of the costumes in this movie? And did you like the gharara or the sari more?

RE-INVENT YOUR WARDROBE#3: Altering hemlines

I'm sure you've noticed over the past couple of years, that hemlines of kameezes in Pakistani fashion have gotten shorter, which means all those gorgeous long dresses and kameezes we've got suddenly feel a little outdated! While I have updated my wardrobe with some pretty new outfits in the last year or so, I haven't been going too crazy with it - especially when it seems like such a pity to throw out some serious beautiful outfits.

I'm sure you've noticed I've been leaning towards more DIY and mixing-and-matching of outfits these days, and the same thing applies here - rather than replace my whole wardrobe I've been altering someof the pieces. One of the things which I've decided to do is alter the hemlines of my kameezes - shortening them to make them more fashionable and wearable by today's trends.

I thought I'd quickly show one of the outfits I've altered, to show just how easy this is - this is a kameez that I shortened recently by literally measuring and cutting along the bottom - I started with a a simple one in my wardrobe so that it would be easier to do (and I'd be less upset if I ruined the outfit!). I also used a light, plain outfit which would be easy to work with because there would be no embellishment or laces in the way.

The main process of this was pretty easy - it literally involved cutting the bottom and them hemning it over, while neatening the stitches and tidying/cutting the loose threads. In the past I've usually gotten my mum to do my alterations, especially since I don't have a sewing machine myself so I can't operate one property but this one I did myself as my mum's hands aren't what they used to be as she gets older.

In this case I used a sharp pair of scissors to cut and loosely hemmed with some needle and thread at the bottom, before going over it again with smaller and stronger stitched. Took me a while but I managed to do it!

This is the end product - I was quite please with how straightforward this ended up being, and it helped that the material of the outfit was easy to work with, and it was quite easy to sew with as well.

This is me wearing the outfit, which perfect for a sunny weekend! The outfit itself already had straight trousers with it which added to the 70s look it ended up with (the 70s look wasn't intentional but it worked!)

I also wanted to show examples of other kameezes I have shortened in the same way to make them wearable - this Sana Safinaz Eid outfit and also this Agha Noor kurta, which I got my mum to shorten for me. Some of them involved more work because I had to remove the borders on the hem, cut the kameez shorter then re-sew the borders and laces back on and neaten it up, but overall it was fairly easy to do. It's also amazing how different the outfits look when they are shorted, they look and feel more playful and slightly more casual.

Outfits from left to right: Sana Safinaz, Agha Noor, Khaadi

Evaluation:
The alterations wer faily easy to do, and it's amazing how much a kameez can be transformed once you alter it, not to mention the savings it made on my purse to alter my outfits rather than get rid of them and buy new ones.

I did play around with styles a tiny bit - the blue Khaadi outit above was like a hi-low style kameez, with the front being short while the back was still the same length, which I liked (and which I put on my instagram account and got a few positive comments about!)

I haven't tried it with a dress style outfit yet (like an anarkali) because I'm not sure it would work, but I definitely want to play around with more hemlines, and see how they look at the end. I've also been looking at whether I should take a few sewing courses (or Youtube lessons!) to make more of my sewing skills - and will let you know about this as I progress!

BOLLYWOOD ISHTYLE: Aishwariya's 70s Chic in Vogue, India

I do like Aishwariya Rai Bachan, not only is she a beautiful woman, but she's very classy - in the way she handled criticism in the 'fat-debate' and in her discreet manners which keeps her being a style icon.

She's appeared in a photoshoot for Vogue India, featuring the former Miss World in 70's hair, casual-formal Tommy Hilfiger outfits, and a very natural looking beauty (I know she's got make-up on, but it doesn't look dramatic and she looks flawless, glowy).

I love that Ash kept to an almost casual look, focusings on her curves, her wavy locks and a very sensual image that focuses on her eyes and her beauty. She also comments that on the idea of a comback - Comeback? What comeback - "Why, she never went away."
Certainly, she's always been in the limelight - whether it was for her baby weight, for her fashion style or for her role as ambassador for more than one brand.

You can read a part of the interview here - what do you think of Aishwariya's new look? In the latest trend of bobcuts that are popping up here and there, I love Aishwariya's new fringe and new look, and will wait to see what else she will be offering.

 

Picture Credits

DESIGNER MODE: Rano's Heirlooms

I recently came across the beautiful work of Rano's Heirlooms by designer Rano Usman, who creates beautifully embroidered pieces which result in some very beautiful, classy piece.

There's dresses, saris and skirts in plenty of vibrant colours, which don't distract from the beautiful work of the outfits - I love the colourful peacocks, birds, flowers and shimmery gold work which seems to be a theme with her work. There's a lot of embroidery and subtle, intricate detail in Rano's pieces which adds to the vintage look of the outfits, and also echoes

I like the designer's take on her work too - that detail is more important than flamboyance, that the input of tailors are important too, and what really shines through is her love for creating designs and beautiful work.

I'll be keeping an eye out for more of her work this year - I have no idea what the price ranges are for some of these but I'm sure that they aren't cheap, but it's definitely worth finding out. What do you think of this designer's work?

 

Images from Rano's Heirloom Facebook group

BOLLYWOOD ISHTYLE: Nargis in Karma Red

I really like this elegant look being modelled by the lovely Nargis Fakhri here below for label Karma, showing a traditional outfit which for me, seems to hint the older generations of 60s and 70s bridal outfits. I love the use of colour here too, subtle yet luxurious, and Nargis herself looks beautifully glamorous - I really like how subtle her make-up looks.

On a side note, I do also love the look of Manish Malhotra's latest collection which was showcased at the grand finale of Delhi Couture Week recently - I wanted to post a few pictures but there were too many I liked so thought I'd let you browse and decide for yourselves! I like the fact that there are so many deep, rich colours with beautiful flowy skirts - right up my street :)

BOLLYWOOD ISHTYLE: Kangana's Simple 'Rekha' Look in 'Shootout at Wadala'

I'm a fan of Kangana Ranaut, and I love how she puts together looks which are both stylish and unique. Her latest upcoming film 'Shootout at Wadala' seems the same, in that Kangana has taken a style and made it look great. In this film, she has gone for a slightly different style and opted for, er, an Indian housewife look.  

This is also a look that reminds me a lot of Rekha in the 70s and 80s, with her long hair and red lips. I also noticed that rather than go for a overly-glamorous look, Kangana wears simple cotton-printed saris and her make-up is generally quite simple and light, something which is quite credible as a housewife, and which also makes a nice change from the highly-polished look we always see in Bollywood films! What do you think of this look? Do you think Kangana looks similar to Rekha in these shots?

All images from Shootout at Wadala trailer and do not belong to  me

BOLLYWOOD ISHTYLE: Asha Parekh Retro Glamour

I do love the 60s and 70s retro styles and beautiful, iconic looks of the time - eyeliner flicks, pretty saris and beehive hairstyles. I think this is a great example of an iconic, timeless look, which would still look amazing in today's trends. I'm not a huge fan of orange clothes, but Bollywood actress Asha Parekh looks great in this peachy orange sari, down to the pretty, sparkly jewellery.

What do you think of this look, something you would like to replicate?

Image source: Times of India

BOLLYWOOD ISHTYLE: Seventies Stylish Glamour in 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbai'

I love the styling in this film, 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbai', which is set in the seventies and has some iconic-looking outfits and styles which I really liked. There's a real range of colour and design throughout, and I like the fact that there are two different 'heroines' in the film which allowed the costume designers to explore both sides, Western and Traditional.

Kangana Ranaut's role as a movie star embodies the changing style of the seventies, from the funky hair styles, the jewellery and the daring outfits, which she pulls off pretty well. I loved the natural use of colour on her, and the fact that her make-up is not overdone.

In contrast, Prachi Desai's role as a more traditional, feminine and more 'naive' type gave her a range of salwar kameezes and dresses to wear which looked very classic and also very flattering. Again, I like how simple her hair and make up is kept, and the fact that the scenery and decor around her is used to create her style, such as towering mosque buildings, the bazaar around her and at one point, the rooftops in Mumbai!

Another thing I liked was how the designers played around with Kangana's hair styles, which couples with her 70s style eyeliner and 'baby doll' lips really created a look which was both a throwback to the seventies as well as recognisable in today's trends. I like how the film varies from giving her a bob-cut to long waves (which kind of reminded me of Hema Malini in her heyday!) - just shows the benefits of being a movie star and having adaptable hair!

Compared to this, the more relaxed make-up and hair styles of Prachi are something which feel a bit more traditional and easy to replicate - the plait is certainly something I can imagine as being realistic! I did like the fact that Prachi's natural beauty is emphasised though, and the fact that she has a a good balance with outfits and hair and make-up.

There were a few outfits which stood out in this film, partly because they looked similar to costumes seen in the seventies (and in seventies Bollywood films!) and partly because they were just pretty.
One example of this is this pink sari, which was probably the outfit I liked most on Kangana. It's a coral pink colour which is prettily embellished and worn by Kangana with a matching lipstick, which I think would look great today! I love this shade of pink, it suits a lot of people and looks very refreshing, and certainly on this character it really looks effortless and pretty.

Another outfit I like was this white dress, which is basically a one-shouldered maxi dress. Again, it is a simple outfit which relies on accesseories and the way the whole look is put together, but I think it is pretty and very flattering on Kangana, right down to the flowered jewellery in her hair.

Alternatively, this is another white outfit worn by Kangana, but which gives a different look. I like the fact that its a traditional, modest white outfit which is jazzed up with pearl earrings and necklaces and some funky sunglasses. While this look may not be so popular today, I can imagine it being something which was worn back in the seventies!

I also liked this gold outfit, which seemed a bit in line with today's trends (sequin dresses, gold shimmer), so may not be that realistic in terms of what may have been worn at that time. I did think the make-up here was quite nice though, especially as the smokey eyes and bronzed look is different from the other styles worn by Kangana.

In contrast to this are the beautiful outfits worn by Prachi, which are less westernised and more closer to the fashion styles which were popular in the seventies.
The one I loved the most was this tea pink sharara outfit, which reminded me of something my mum says she used to wear in her younger days! The fact that it's quite simple outfit focusing on the cut of it, as well as the fact that it is matched to a teal coloured dupatta makes it something which works every effectively. It's pretty, it's girly and it's flattering. It's rare to see a sharara outfit these days, but looking at this one, it's easy to see why it used to be popular.

I also liked this pretty white outfit, which is simple yet very refreshing, something which I can imagine to be easily found in the high street, and also very easy to wear. Again, the colours are quite typical of it's time, and the style is quite fashionable yet modest and stylish.

Througout the film, Prachi's character dresses quite simply, traditionally and in a feminine way that has a beautiful use of colour, but also doesn't overdo her outfits. The colours and cut of her clothes are quite close to what may have been worn in the seventies, while some might not find it entirely authentic, I thought it was quite well done and prettily-carried by this actress. Again, her natural make-up look and her beautiful hair also helped to create a style for her which would still look great by today's standards.

 

All images belong to producers/directors of 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbai'

I think the outfits and styles of this film are quite well designed, while not every single outfit or style is something which may have been found in 70s Mumbai, I think the film creates a glamour which is very likeableKangana's eyeliner flick, and I loved Prachi's traditional outfits!